Gastric Botox – Prof. Samet Yardimci, MD

What is gastric botox?

The administration of botulinum toxin (botox) to the stomach is a relatively new weight-loss method based on the principle of injecting botulinum toxin into certain parts of the stomach using endoscopic method. In this method, the contraction of the stomach muscles is restricted and gastric emptying time is delayed, achieving loss of appetite in the patient.

Who are eligible candidates for gastric botox?

Gastric botox can actually be administered to anyone who desires to lose weight. This is not a surgery. However, patient selection is important. It should be noted that gastric botox will not be very beneficial for patients with a body mass index greater than 40 and who can only achieve success with surgery. At this point, patients, who are overweight but not too obese to be operated and who desire to lose weight, constitute the ideal patient group. In patients with ulcers or gastritis, gastric botox can be administered after proper treatment of these diseases.

Is there any side effect of gastric botox?

Botox is widely used in order to reduce wrinkles on the skin and is known to have no dangerous side effect. Since gastric botox administration is a standard endoscopic procedure, there is no significant side effect reported in the literature. Patients may have temporary nausea and slight hypotension. The procedure is not suitable for those with muscular disease and who are allergic to botox.

Does gastric botox guarantee weight loss?

None of the methods, including gastric botox, guarantee weight loss. It is not correct to perceive gastric botox as a miraculous treatment. Although it is known that gastric botox has an appetite-reducing effect and helps in dieting, it is likely that patients who eat high-carbohydrate foods after botox administration will fail.

How long does the gastric botox procedure take? Is it necessary to stay in the hospital?

Gastric botox is not a surgery. It is an endoscopic procedure entirely carried out by entering orally. No incision is made. The procedure takes approximately 20 minutes. Patients are anesthetized by an anesthetist during the procedure. It is not necessary to stay in the hospital. After the procedure, the patient may go home after 1-2 hours of observation. The next day, the patient can return to a daily routine.

Does gastric botox cause any permanent damage in the stomach?

It is known that the effect of the drug used in gastric botox is completely eliminated from the body within 4-6 months. Therefore, it is unlikely to cause any permanent damage.

My bowels are already lazy. Do I have more bloating with botox?

Gastric botox procedure is only performed on the smooth muscles of the stomach, it has no effect on the nerve cells and the intestinal motility. Therefore, it does not have any effect to increase intestinal laziness. In the diet program that will be prepared specially for you after gastric botox (indicate this condition to your dietician), intestinal laziness may be improved by adding foods for intestinal activity to the diet.

What do I need to pay attention to after gastric botox?

The consumption of quickly-consumed foods such as fast food, acidic sugary beverages are harmful. Patients who undergo gastric botox get hungry later, get full up with fewer portions and feel satiated more early.

What is the difference between gastric botox and gastric balloon?

Gastric balloon is also one of the endoscopic interventions performed for weight loss. However, the volume of the gastric balloon should be occasionally adjusted according to the patient, which requires an endoscopic intervention at every turn. Gastric botox provides an effective loss of appetite for 3-6 months in a single session. In the case of a gastric balloon, the presence of a foreign body in the stomach causes nausea, although rarely. Moreover, many patients complain about regaining their appetite instantly after the gastric balloon is removed. Since the effect of gastric botox gradually downgrades, no such sudden appetite increase is experienced, the appetite slowly returns to normal.